Journal lubricator



Oct. 16, 1951 HA 2,571,235

JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Filed Oct. 29, 1947 WEI.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,571,235 JOURNAL LUBRICATOR I Alfred A. Hamer, Alexandria, Va.

Application October 29, 1947, Serial No. 782,929

3 Claims. (Cl. 308-87) This invention relates to journal lubrication,and particularly to journals mounted in journal boxes of railway rollingstock.

An important object of the invention is to provide a body portionconstructed preferably of rubber known as Neoprene or other oil and acidresistant rubber composition, the construction of the body portion beingsuch as to provide a reservoir with the bottom of the journal box inwhich the body portion is positioned.

Another important object of the invention is to so construct the bodyportion that the ends of the reservoir formed thereby, will be sealedagainst foreign matter entering the reservoir to impair the lubricatingqualities of the lubricant.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means forconveying the oil in the reservoir, to the surface of the journal,through capillary attraction, the lubricant conveying means being in theform of suitable fiber material, such as fiber glass wool against whichthe journal contacts to pick up the lubricant which is carried to thejournal and bearing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lubricator of thischaracter wherein the body portion and web or wick will be maintained ina flat condition in contact with the journal throughout the entirelength thereof, thereby insuring against the fibrous material or wickbuckling to cause what is commonly known as waste grab which usuallyresults in an overheated journal box and the resultant damage to thejournal and in a great many instances, the rolling stock in general.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough a journal box and lubricating device constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicatesa journal box in which the journal 6 operates, the journal 6 contactinthe journal bearing I in the usual and well known manner.

The device forming the subject matter of the which is of a length toextend throughout the length of the bottom of the journal box, the bodyportion being constructed preferably of rubber material of the oil andacid-resistant type, having absorbent qualities.

The body portion 1 is of a width to extend across the bottom of thejournal box as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, the uppersurface thereof being curved to conform to the curvature of the journaloperating within the journal box, to the end that slight pressure willbe directed upwardly against the journal.

The lower portion of the body I is cut away providing an oil reservoir 8with the bottom of the journal box, the construction of the body portionbeing such that the reservoir 8 is closed at its front end by the wall 9and closed at its rear end by the wall l0, thereby excluding foreignmatter which would otherwise enter the oil reservoir to impair theefficiency of the oil.

An opening II is formed in the body portion I adjacent to the front endof the journal, so that lubricating material may be supplied to thereservoir 8.

Vulcanized to the upper curved surface of the body portion I, is thewick I2 which is constructed preferably of woven fiber glass wool orwear-resistant fabric material capable of absorbing the lubricant withinthe reservoir, and carrying the lubricant to the position where it willbe picked up by the rotating journal, by capillary attraction.

As clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, the ends of the wick I2extend through openings formed in the body portion I, the extremities [3thereof extending into the reservoir where they are submerged in the oilcontained in the reser- Molded or otherwise secured within the bodyportion adjacent to the lower outer edges thereof, are reinforcing ribsI4 which are constructed of semi-rigid rubber, or metal if desired.These reinforcing ribs hold the flexible body portion I extended at alltimes, and permit the application of the body portion under the journalin such a way that the body portion will not buckle and become wedged todefeat the purpose of the invention.

Those ribs also tend to hold the body portion extended at all timespreventing any possibility of the body portion I being carried upwardlyby the rotation of the journal within the journal box.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that due to the construction shownand described, I have provided lubricating means for journal boxconstruction, wherein'the journals and bearings are constantly fed withlubricant to maintain the journal cool.

It will further be seen that due to the construction, the lubricantcontained within the reservoir of the device is maintained clean andguarded against foreign matter entering the reservoir to impair theefficiency of the lubricant.

In view of the fact that the body portion 1 is constructed of rubbermaterial, it will be obvious that the body portion will adapt itself tothe contour of the interior of the journal box, insuring a close fittherebetween to hold the body portion 1 in place.

It will be seen that the wick which carries the lubricant to thejournal, contacts the journal throughout the entire length of theJournal insuring the lubrication of the journal throughout the entirelength thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. The combiantion with a journal box and journal operating therein, ofa journal lubricating device comprising a solid yieldable body portionconsisting of a block of absorbent rubber material, fitted in thejournal box in contact with the side walls of the journal box, said bodyportion having a recess in the bottom extending throughout substantiallythe entire length thereof forming a lubricant reservoir with the bottomof the housing in which the body portion is positionedfawick secured tothe upper surface of the body portion, said wick being extended throughopenings formed in the yieldable body portion with the ends thereofdisposed within the reservoir, whereby lubricating material is deliveredto the journal from the reservoir, and said body portion having anopening through which lubricating material is directed to the reservoir.

2. The combination with a journal box and journal operating therein, ofa journal lubricating device comprising a solid yieldable body portionconstructed of a block of absorbent rubber material-fitted within thejournal box, said body portion contacting the side walls and said recessproviding a lubricant reservoir with the bottom of the journal box, the.ends of the reservoir being closed, a wide wick positioned ,on the uppersurface of the body portion for contact with a journal extending intothe journal box, portions of the wick being extended through the bodyportion with the ends thereof disposed within the lubricating materialcontained in the reservoir, whereby lubricating material is delivered tothe journal by capillary attraction, and

said body portion having an opening establishing communication betweenthe reservoir and atmosphere, whereby lubricating material may bedelivered to the reservoir.

3. The combination with a journal box and journal operating therein, ofa journal lubricating device comprising a yieldable body portion havingopenings extending vertically therethrough fitted within the bottom ofthe journal box, filling the bottom of the journal box, said bodyportion having a recess defining a reservoir in the bottom of thejournal box, the ends of the reservoir being closed, a wide wick securedto the upper surface of the yieldable body portion throughout the lengththereof, and adapted to contact with the journal, said wick beingdisposed within said openings and delivering lubribottom of said journalbox, said body portion I having a recess formed in the bottom thereof.

cating material to the journal, the ends of the wick being extended intothe reservoir through which lubricating material is fed to the upperportion of the wick, by capillary attraction, and ribs secured withinthe body portion and disposed longitudinally thereof, holding the bodyportion against displacement.

AIJ'RED A. HAMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 642,376 Skilton Jan. 30, 19002,138,9 1 Keeler Dec. 6, 1938v 2,150,935 Miller Mar. 21, 1939 2,291,483Miller July 28, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 373,568 GreatBritain May 26, 1932

